Mugabe accused of blocking voters from Zimbabwe elections

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Mugabe supporters at the President’s speech to launch his re-election campaign yesterdayTsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP

Jan Raath

Published at 12:01AM, July 6 2013

Robert Mugabe launched his campaign to be re-elected as president of Zimbabwe yesterday with a threat to leave the regional organisation that is pushing for free and fair elections.

The Southern African Development Community had called on Mr Mugabe, 89, to delay the elections called for July 31 and allow time for reforms to the electoral roll. But he responded by saying that he would rather withdraw from the 15-member SADC than postpone the election.

Mr Mugabe, who has been in power for 33 years and is hoping for another five, had told an SADC summit that he would delay